Means for dimming lamps



Nov. 3, 1931. w. DUBILIER 1,830,531

MEANS FOR DIMMING LAMPS Filed Feb. 1, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 )NVEHT R William Dubih'er nTToRHEY Nov. 3, 1931.

W. DUBILIER MEANS FOR DIMMING LAMPS Filed Feb. 1, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNV NTQR Vellum? B titer ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED], STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM DUBILIER, F ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, AS SIGNOR TO DUBILIER CON- DENSER CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE MEANS FOR DIMMING LAMPS Application filed February This invention relates to improvementsin means. for dimming lamps, particularly 1ncandescent electric lamps.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device which can be used in connection with practically any standard incandescent lamp and the socket 1n which such a lamp is usually inserted to connect it in circuit with the source of electrical power; and which will operate with practically no heat or loss of electrical energy, such as is usually incurred when dimming devices comprising resistances in circuit with the filaments of incandescent lamps are used.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for dimming an incandescent electric lamp which comprises very few parts and is of such design that anyone can operate it, and which presents very little likelihood of being deranged or getting out of'order in practice.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will fully appear from the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one or more embodiments of the best forms of my invention now known to me; but the disclosure is, of course, explanatory only, and I may vary the arrangement of parts and details of construction to the full extent indicated by the nature and scope of the invention as set forth in the general terms of the appended claims.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of an electric lamp attached to means for dimming same according to my invention, said means being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a side view partly in section of another form of my invention.

Figure 3 is a diagram of the circuits used in the structure shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section of the line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a side view of another form of dimming means according to my invention.

9 to which the opposite pole of the condenser 1, 1926. Serial No. 85,362.

The same numerals identify the same parts throu hout.

Re erring first to Figure 1, I show in this form of my invention an incandescent lamp comprising a bulb 1 containing a filament 2. When an electric current traverses this filament, it burns brightly and becomes a source of illumination in the usual way. One end of the filament is connected to the usual threaded sleeve 3 on the neck of the lamp, while the opposite end is united to a terminal- 4' at the end of this neck. At 5 I indicate a condenser within a plug 6- of insulation or other material, the outside of which is covered by a threaded sleeve 7 of some conductive material, the same as the threaded sleeve or bushing 3. One end of this plug 6 carries an outside terminal 8 to which one pole of the condenser 5 is joined and the opposite end of this plug carries a similar terminal is connected. At 10 is a sleeve of insulation having a bore therethrough, open at both ends and lined with a metallic threaded sleeve .11. The plug 6 is screwed into one end of the sleeve or coupling 10 and the lamp 3 in the opposite end. When the terminal 4: makes contact with the terminal 9, the filament is in circuit'with the condenser, and when the end of the plug 6 carrying the terminal 8 is screwed into the ordinary lamp socket, the filament 2 of the lamp can be put in circuit with the source of electric power through the central terminal of the socket which will make contact with the terminal 8 and through the threaded metallic sleeve 7, which Wlll engage the usual threaded lining of the lamp socket. As this lining of the lamp socket is connected to one side of the power circuit,

and the central terminal of the lamp socket tothe other side of the power circuit,the lamp 1 will receive current in the same way as when an ordinary incandescent lamp is screwed into such socket directly, without the v intervention of any such member as the plug 90 6 or coupling sleeve 10. My invention is, of course, mtended for employment on circuits for alternating current, and by giving the condenser 5 the proper capacity and design,

only a small quantity of current reaches the filament 2, and when the lamp is utilized in connection with such a condenser, it gives but a small amount of illumination and uses but a small part of the total current. At the same time, there is practically no waste or loss, and the invention can be readily practiced, because all that is necessary is to screw the lamp bulb 1 into one end of the coupling 10 and the condenser containing plug 6' into the usual socket. When the dimmin means is not desired, the plug 6 and the s eeve 10 can be discontinued and the lamp 1 can be screwed into the socket directly to make the lamp give the full illumination for which it is constructed. This device works very well on alternating circuits and is much simpler than the ordinary form of dimming device involving resistance coils, is more durable and much less likely to become damaged or get out of order. Obviously, the plug 6 and the coupling 10 can be made in one piece and permanently secured to each other if desired.

This means for dimming the filament 2 of the lamp, besides being not only simpler and less expensive as well as less cumbersome and smaller than a resistance coil or some other appliance, has the additional advanta e that it will operate without heating, and thus obtain the desired result without really adding anything to the lamp or the circuit in which it works, because the condenser 5 is really more of a gap in the power circuit leading to the lamp than any extra apparatus inserted therein.

In Figures 2, 3, and 4 I show another embod-iment of my invention, which comprises a casing 12 having adjacent one extremity a threaded metallic sleeve 13 which extends all the way from said end up to a collar 14. In the opposite extremit is a socket or recess 15 containing a threa ed metallic linin 16 united to the sleeve 13 by conductor 17, w 'ch may be embedded in the insulating material of which the body of the casing 12 is made. In the one end adjacent the sleeve 13 is a terminal 18 and in the socket or recess 15 is another terminal 19. Inside of the casing 12 is a condenser 20, one terminal 21 of which 'is joined to a conductor 22 which passes through the adjacent end portion of the easing and connects with the terminal 18, and the point of junction of the conductors 21 and 22 is united to a conductor 23 which leads to a contact 24: The opposite terminal of the condenser 20 is connected by a wire or conductor 25 to another contact 26, and adjacent the contacts 24 and 26 is a third isolated contact 27. These three contacts are preferably located on the outside of the casing 12 in a housing or cover 28, and m this housing or cover is a switch 29 on a' shaft 30 which carries,outside of the cover, an operating knob or the'like 31, by turning which the switch 29 can be moved. The switch is permanently in contact with a suitable conductor such as abrush 32 which is connected to the terminal 19. By means of this arrangement, as shown practically in Figures 2, 3, and 4, if one turns the knob 31, it can make the switch 29 engage i the contact 24, the contact 26, or'the contact 27. When lamp 1 is screwed into the recess 15, one end of the filament'attached to the threaded sleeve or bushing 3 is put in circuit with the sleeve 13 and the other end of the filament united to the terminal 4 engages the terminal 19 and is put in circuit with the terminal 18. If the switch rests upon the contact 27, both the lamp and the condenser are out of circuit. If the switch is turned to engage the contact 26, the condenser is in circuit and the lamp is dimmed. By moving the switch further to engage the contact 24, the condenser is cut out and the lamp is caused to give its maximum illumination.

In Figure 5 I show a form of my invention very similar to Figure 2, except that the lamp is controlled by means of a pull chain. In this, form the switch which controls the lamp and the condenser can be placed between the condenser 20 and the collar 14. Such a switch is indicated diagrammatically at 34, and the pullchain is shown at 35, which enters the interior of the casing 33 by way of a funnel shaped bushing 36. I do not need to describe the construction of the switch 34 in this application, as this switch works upon the principle of any three point snap switch with a suitablemember attached to the chain 35 in the casing 33 and mounted so that it always tends to return to its original position. Sucha member will engage the switch a'rm so that when the chain 35 is pulled, it will at first connect in the condenser 21 in circuit with the lamp and then on the next pull, the condenser will be cut out and the filament connected in the power circuit so that it will give its fullillumination. Then on thenext pull of the chain 35, the lamp will be extinguished so that when it is a ain desired to use the lamp, the first pull 0 the chain will once more connect in the condenser and lamp together.

To use the two forms of the invention shown in Figures2, 3, 4, and 5, one need only screw the sleeve 13 into an ordinary lamp socket and the lamp 1 into the recess 15.

My invention is not only cheaper to make than dimming devices of the kind which include resistancecoils, but also it is simpler, easier to operate, less liable to become'impaired, and it further eliminates loss and heating of the entire apparatus.

The coupling sleeve 10 shown in Figure 1 is, of course, preferably made of insulation, and it will be seen that the complete fitting shown in Figure 1, as well as those shown in Figures 2 and 5 necessarily comprises a connector plug at one .end, same as the end .of

the lamp which bears the threaded conductor believe to be new and desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States 1s:- 4

1. An attachment plug comprising a tubular body of ins ating material, input a central pin terminal said terminals being axially aligned with said tubular body ductor carried by the wall of said body electrically connecting said sleeve terminals and a reactance disposed within said body direct- 1y between sald pin terminals and having one terminal thereof connected to one of saidpin terminals and the other terminal thereof adapted to be connected to the other pin terminal.

In testimony whereof 'I afiix m WILLIAM DUl 'lILIER.

. terminals at one end thereof for connecting the plug to a source of current,'output terminals near the other end thereof for connecting' a work circuit to the lug, a conductor disposed in the wall of said body ele'ctrically connecting one of the input terminals to one of the output terminals, and a condenser disposed within said tubular body and adapted to be connected between another of the input terminals and another of the output terminals for limiting the 'current supplied to the work circuit.

2. An attachment plug as defined by claim 1 and a switch secured to the wall of said body, said switch having terminals connected respectively to the last mentioned input and output terminals and a terminal of said condenser.

3. An attachment plug adapted to be connected between an electric outlet and an electric power consumin device, comprising a hollow body of insu ating material having a flat exterior surface portion, input terminals secured to said body and adapted to connect the plug to said outlet, output terminals secured to said body for connecting said power consuming device to the plug,

-a condenser disposed within said hollow body, a switch mounted on the flat rtion of said bod and adapted to selective y connect one 0 said input terminals to one of said output terminals directly or in series with said condenser, and a conductor carned by the wall of said body electrically connecting another of said input terminals to another of said output terminals.

4. An electric lamp dimming device comprising a tubular body of insulatin material, means at one end of said bod or connecting the device with a lamp' soc et, means at the opposite end of said body for receiving the base of an electric lamp, each of said means comprising a sleeve terminal and signature. 

